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Personal Skincare Experiences by Matthew Malin, co-founder of MALIN+GOETZ: As some of you know, I suffer from a variety of skin concerns including rosacea, eczema, seborrhea and fragrance allergies. I’ve been making frequent trips to the dermatologist’s office since my teens and have tried almost every cream, treatment, and Rx out there. What I’ve learned after a lot of trial and error: there is no permanent cure for my skin conditions. But I can find relief by using the right products and ingredients. This discovery actually inspired me and my partner, Andrew Goetz, to create MALIN+GOETZ. Our mission is simple: to make skincare easy and less complicated, and most importantly, to address irritated and sensitive skin needs. It’s our goal at MALIN+GOETZ to offer you highly-effective daily use treatments that won’t irritate or exacerbate your skin, and complement your prescription skincare routine and procedures, if you’re seeking the care of a dermatologist. While I’m not a medical professional, I’m often asked for advice by fans of our products about how I cope and care for my skin. So I’ve decided to share some of my personal experiences and research here with you in the hopes that they might bring you some relief and address your top questions. (Please note: We are not making medical suggestions or claims and suggest that you consult a dermatologist about any health issues you might have before making changes to your skincare routine, should you be concerned.)

We know this as a common and often genetic inflammatory skin disorder that affects the scalp, face, and body and is characterized by scaly, flaky, itchy and red patches. It often strikes where the skin produces oil: on the scalp, eyebrows, eyelids, creases of the nose, behind and in the external skin of the ears, and the folds on the center of the body, like the chest or back.

The causes aren’t completely known but professionals believe that seborrhea can be brought on by an over-production of skin oil and irritation to a form of yeast, called malessizia, naturally found in the skin. It’s a chronic condition that can be managed but often flares up in response to stress, fatigue, and extremes in the weather.

Soothing the symptoms above isn’t easy! I’ve had luck avoiding heavy moisturizers and pore-clogging oils and sticking with fatty acid-based botanical lotions, which seem to absorb better and clear up the redness and itch right away.

I do find that some limited sun exposure (no, we’re not advocating baking in the sun without SPF!) can help clear up my chest and back while swimming in the ocean is great for my skin in general. However, working out can be a challenge—sweat makes seborrhea worse, especially in the summer (in New York!) where it never ends. I wash with our Grapefruit Face Cleanser and Eucalyptus Body Wash since both are hydrating and naturally anti-bacterial. Also, our oil-free, fatty acid Vitamin E Face Moisturizer , or SPF 15 Face Moisturizer, lightly replenishes my skin as a follow-up, so, I can sport a light cotton shirt and stay as cool as possible. Phew. The most important part of my routine is simply to keep my skin clean. I wash every morning and evening with our Grapefruit Face Cleanser —I find that this brings clarity and evenness to my tone. The seborrhea is not gone, but tolerable.

Dandruff or medicated shampoos: Over-the-counter options may contain salicylic acid, coal tar, zinc, resorcin, ketoconazole, or selenium, while stronger prescription ones usually have elenium, ketoconazole, or corticosteroids to loosen scales on the scalp. It’s best to scrub the shampoo in for at least 5 minutes and rinse thoroughly (but always check the package directions). I have tried most, and, find that my scalp responds well to zinc and salicylic acid. However, our Peppermint Shampoo, messaged in well and rinsed, daily, is also effective. I towel dry my hair and apply a little oil-free Cilantro Conditioner as a leave-in on my scalp and any affected areas. It soothes and hydrates without any irritation. Overall, I’ve found that the key to success is to keep my hair short and clean, and free of styling products as they often inflame my scalp. ----- For more information on skin conditions, please visit American Academy of Dermatology at http://www.aad.org/